WOODWARD MEETS AGENT
Manchester United’s Ed Woodward met with Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic’s agent to force through a move to United. United were resigned to missing out on the Croat but are now looking for a swoop before the window closes at the end of the month. The meeting took place to help ensure United get their man for a fee less than Inter’s asking price of 45m. Chelsea are also keen on bringing Perisic to the Premier League but the player is said to prefer a move to Old Trafford.
CONTRACT NEWS
Manchester United are reportedly set to begin contractual negotiations with Luke Shaw. The left-back joined United back in 2014 from Southampton signed a four-year deal on joining. The deal is set to run out next summer and Mourinho is keen to tie Shaw down to a long-term contract. Shaw is currently out with an ankle injury and will return only next month.
MOURINHO SET FOR GONG
Mourinho has been nominated for the FIFA Coach of The Year Award 2017. Mourinho won two trophies in his debut campaign at United will battle the likes of Antonio Conte, Mauricio Pochettino, Zinedine Zidne, Pep Guardiola and Massimiliano Allegri. They are part of a 12 man shortlist announced by FIFA.
BOLT FROM THE BLUE
Usain Bolt will miss the United V Barcelona charity match after tests confirmed that the athletic legend suffered a hamstring tear in his final run on spikes. Bolt, a lifelong United fan has always expressed his desire to put on his shooting boots after retiring from the track, finally got his opportunity to play for United in the Charity fixture. But now, United will have to make do with Bolt who will have to wait for yet more time to don the United Red.
LEMAR RAID
Manchester United are exploring the possibility to hijack Arsenal’s deal for Monaco’s Thomas Lemar. The Frenchman who has a 55m price-tag, has long been linked with Arsenal. United’s interest is yet preliminary but Mourinho may look to put one past his old rival Wenger. Lemar who can operate centrally and on the wing is a pricer option than Perisic.
THE BIGGER CLUB
Nemanja Matic has already labelled United as the bigger club than Chelsea less than two weeks after signing from the latter. Matic siad: “Definitely, everyone knows what Manchester United is about. When you say Manchester United, it is different. Also Chelsea is a big club, Benfica are the biggest club in Portugal. But Manchester is Manchester. After every training session, they are waiting for us outside the training ground to take pictures, to give a signature so I think the club is one of the biggest in the world. Maybe you have two or three clubs similar to United, but Manchester is one of the biggest clubs in the world for sure.”